Economies of Paint

Anyone who has taken a brief glimpse into an Economics text book should remember the name Adam Smith. For those that can’t remember, Adam Smith is perhaps one of the most influential economists of all time. Adam Smith coined ‘The Invisible Hand’, a term for the self-regulating nature of the marketplace. Essentially it means that the psychology behind free market competition leads to a society which produces a socially optimal level of output. In other words, business is good!

“By preferring the support of domestic to that of foreign industry, he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was not part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. It is an affectation, indeed, not very common among merchants, and very few words need be employed in dissuading them from it.” – Adam Smith

This is a big reason why I do not feel emotional attachment to any business what so ever. I don’t support shops to simply support shops. Instead I support businesses that support me with superior product at reasonable prices, whether that’s a local shop or some dude in Russia or China, or Brazil. Charity aside, I couldn’t care less who my dollar is supporting because I’m a capitalist and an outlaw ballah to boot. I care about my own self interest just like everyone everyone else, there’s no free lunch here.

So we can hide behind these notions of fairness but at the end of the day, life is unfair and some businesses will die. Sometimes a business needs to change to accommodate new market conditions. One could say that propping up a business in the name of localism only reinforces the company’s resistance to change. So in effect, ’supporting local shops’ is actually doing quite the opposite.

Let me be clear,  unlike other paintball posts this author will not  bleet the tired old ‘our sport is dieing’ adage.   Market demand for paintball products hasn’t subsided anymore than it has for other recreational products, it’s a tough market for anyone.  However by adopting a more open minded long term strategy I think local shops can gracefully enter the future.